DAVID RUSSELL ECK facing charges after several goats were found deceased in a creek in Chattanooga

- Tennessee, USA - 

On September 2, 2025, the animal shelter McKamey Animal Center received a call reporting that there were several deceased goats in Mountain Creek next to Aldi grocery store on Mundy Street in Chattanooga.

Responding agents found five dead goats in different states of decomposition.

Two of the goats had ear tags that traced them back to the Calhoun Stockyard from which officials say 74-year-old DAVID RUSSELL ECK (pictured), bought the goats.

Officials sent a pair of femur bones to Michigan State University for testing. Results showed "severe malnutrition and starvation."

The McKamey Animal Center is leading the investigation which at this time has not revealed the exact cause and time of the goats’ deaths.

The investigation remains active and forensic testing is being conducted to check for signs of abuse and neglect.

ECK is facing charges of cruelty to animals and livestock at large. He is scheduled to appear in Hamilton County Court on November 4, 2025, at 1:30 p.m.

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In the case of charges being dropped, dismissed, or the case being purged, this article will be rectified accordingly, if official documentation is provided to Voice For Us.

ECK’s mugshot provided to Voice For Us by the Hamilton County Sheriff's Office.

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SAMUEL VARGO, Fayette County Animal Control Officer, accused of killing two lost dogs

- Pennsylvania, USA -

On September 5, 2025, Fayette County Animal Control Officer 60-year-old SAMUEL VARGO (pictured), responded to the Fort Mason Village Housing in Masontown after receiving a report about two dogs who were tied to a pole.

The dogs were a female Husky named Luna and a female Boxer named Roxie.

VARGO attempted to scan the dogs to see whether they had a microchip, but his scanner had a low battery and could not verify that, so he left and took Luna and Roxie with him.

Per Pennsylvania state law, an animal needs to be held for 48 hours before they're euthanized, unless the dog is severely injured and a vet gives permission. If a dog is microchipped like Luna and Roxie were, they're to be held for 10 days.

Instead, the Masontown Police Department alleged VARGO admitted he took the dogs to his home and the next day he shot them in the head, killing them.

The police later found Luna and Roxie’s tags between their shoulder blades and they were active. By the evening of September 6, 2025, Luna and Roxie’s guardians, Bransen A.J. McKay and Lara Mickey, were located.

Lara and Bransen told CBS News they left Luna and Roxie at home to go to a high school football game and when they returned home at about 10:00 p.m., the dogs were gone.

Lara and Bransen then posted pictures of Luna and Roxie on their Facebook accounts and asked members of the community if they had seen their dogs.  

On September 7, 2025, part of a Facebook post published by Bransen read: “Masontown Borough police have officially notified us that my dogs were euthanized this morning 9-6-25 by Sam Vargo from “Animal Control”. 

Lara has created a petition to get justice for Luna and Roxie.

VARGO is the contracted Animal Control Officer for Masontown and is also listed as the ACO for more than a dozen municipalities in three counties.

VARGO was charged with two counts of aggravated cruelty to animals, two counts of cruelty to animals and tampering with evidence, and one count of obstructing the administration of law.

He is free on a $10,000 unsecured bond.

Court records show a preliminary hearing will take place on October 15, 2025, at 3:30 p.m.

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In the case of charges being dropped, dismissed, or the case being purged, this article will be rectified accordingly, if official documentation is provided to Voice For Us.

Luna and Roxie's pictures shared from Bransen A.J. McKay's Facebook account.

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ANMOL BHATIA arrested for breaking into his ex-roommate’s apartment and killing a dog

- California, USA -

Update: October 2, 2025

I heard back from the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office and learned that the furvictim was a male senior Chihuahua “at least 10 years old but we don’t know the exact age.” His name was Dallas.

~ Original story:

Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan J. Hochman announced the arrest of 27-year-old ANMOL BHATIA (pictured).

On the late evening of September 4, 2025, BHATIA broke into his ex-roommate’s apartment in the 1200 block of Harper Avenue near Santa Monica Boulevard.

According to the press release by the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office, home security video footage showed BHATIA slamming his ex-roommate’s dog to the ground and stomping on the furvictim. The video went on to show BHATIA throwing the dog, who at that point was nonresponsive, off the balcony. The lifeless body of the furvictim was found later at a nearby construction site.

BHATIA then proceeded to vandalize the apartment and fled the scene.

Beverly Hills Police arrested BHATIA on September 21, 2025, and contacted the Los Angeles Sheriff’s Department to advise deputies that they had detained BHATIA based on the bulletin that was distributed to law enforcement and media outlets.

On September 23, 2025, BHATIA was charged with one felony count each of animal cruelty, first-degree residential burglary and vandalism with $400 or more in damage or destruction of property. The following day, BHATIA pleaded not guilty to the charges. Bond was set at $175,000 and at the time of writing, records show BHATIA is being held into the Los Angeles County Jail.

A preliminary hearing setting is scheduled for October 9, 2025, in Department 31 of the Airport Courthouse.

DA Hochman said in a written statement: “The level of animal cruelty in this case is deeply disturbing. Our office does not tolerate animal abuse, and we are fully committed to pursuing justice on behalf of these voiceless victims. Just as we aggressively prosecute residential burglary, we will prosecute animal cruelty. We have filed over 100 animal cruelty cases this year and will continue to hold animal abusers accountable.”

The case remains under investigation by the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department, West Hollywood Station.

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Voice For Us Disclaimer: This story is sourced from the press release by the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office. Please note that details may be removed or new information added should updates become available.

In the case of charges being dropped, dismissed, or the case being purged, this article will be rectified accordingly, if official documentation is provided to Voice For Us.

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